Delimitation bill LIVE: South share won't be reduced, says Amit Shah

Opposition unites against three Bills in Lok Sabha; Shah assures caste census underway

DMK MP TR Baalu also opposed the introduction of the Bills. As Baalu asserted that DMK chief MK Stalin had raised black flags in protest, Speaker Birla said it does not matter in the House whether black flags or yellow flags were raised.

AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi also opposed the introduction of the Bills, saying they violate federalism as the voices of southern and smaller states would be marginalised after delimitation.

Owaisi further said that introducing these Bills a week before polling for Assembly elections in Bengal and Tamil Nadu should be treated as a corrupt electoral practice, as it aims to influence the polls in violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

Trinamool Congress MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar also opposed the introduction of all three Bills, calling them unconstitutional. CPM MP K Radhakrishnan also opposed the introduction of the Bills.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured the House that the ongoing Census exercise includes caste enumeration.

Venugopal, Yadav oppose key Bills in Lok Sabha; Rijiju objects to demand for Muslim quota

Congress MP K C Venugopal said the Centre wants to take away the protection that southern states were given from delimitation by both Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1976 and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2001.

Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav also opposed the introduction of the three Bills, alleging that they are aimed at destroying the Constitution. He added that, in the name of implementing women’s reservation, the government is trying to introduce a delimitation exercise. Yadav also asserted that the SP will not support the implementation of women’s reservation until provisions for a quota within quota for OBC and Muslim women are included.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju objected, saying that demanding reservation for Muslims is unconstitutional, as religion-based reservation is not permitted under the Constitution.

Govt tables women’s quota bill, Congress questions timing of move

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal moved to introduce the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill and the Delimitation Bill, while Union Home Minister Amit Shah moved to introduce the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill.

Congress MP KC Venugopal opposed the introduction of the Bills. As Venugopal elaborated on the reasons for his opposition, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju objected, stating that at the introduction stage, any comment on the merits of a Bill should not be allowed.

Dimple Yadav questions intent of women’s reservation bill, flags delimitation concern

Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav on Thursday raised concerns over the government’s intent behind the Women’s Reservation Bill, questioning the absence of a fresh census before its implementation and linking it to the proposed delimitation exercise.

Opposition to boycott Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman election

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has said the Opposition will boycott the election of the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman, citing the Modi government’s failure to appoint a Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker for seven years, lack of consultations, and the NDA’s decision to field Harivansh for a third term.

DMK MPs wear black in Parliament as party escalates protest against delimitation bill

DMK MPs are attending the special session of Parliament dressed in black to lodge their protest against the delimitation bill.

The protest comes amid a wider show of resistance led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, who earlier in the day burnt a copy of the proposed legislation and termed it a “black law”, alleging it would turn Tamils into “refugees” in their own land. He also hoisted a black flag and raised slogans against the Centre’s move, which the party says could harm the state’s interests.

BJP to open Lok Sabha debate with Meghwal; PM Modi likely to speak at 3 pm

In the Lok Sabha, the BJP is set to initiate the discussion with Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal leading the debate. Party MPs Bansuri Swaraj, Raksha Khadse, Aparajita Sarangi, Kangana Ranaut and Dharmshila Gupta are also scheduled to participate as speakers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address the House at around 3 pm on Thursday.

Opposition leaders hold meet to strategise on women’s bill, delimitation proposal

Leaders of opposition parties met within the Parliament premises to chalk out their strategy for the special session, with discussions centred on the women’s reservation bill and the proposed delimitation bill.

AIADMK not for changes in LS representation, says Kovai Sathyan

The principal opposition AIADMK has suggested not to make any changes in the Tamil Nadu Lok Sabha representation of 7.2 per cent, the party's national spokesperson Kovai Sathyan said on Thursday and flayed the ruling DMK for "concealing the truth".

During the all-party meet convened by the DMK on delimitation, the AIADMK, as the principal opposition party suggested not to make any changes in the TN Lok Sabha representation of 7.2 per cent, he said.

"If MPs were to be increased to 850, TN would get 61 MPs as per @EPSTamilNadu suggestion. Why did DMK hide this?" Sathyan asked in a post on the social media platform 'X.' "If there is a book on Encyclopedia of lies @mkstalin shall be the only author who qualifies to write the Book. #shamelessDMK," he said in the post. 

True intent of bills mischievous, have to be rejected completely: Congress

The Congress on Thursday said the true intent of the bills being brought by the government in the garb of implementing women's quota law is mischievous and they have to be rejected completely in their present shape and form.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the three bills are being taken up in Lok Sabha and the packaging and marketing is women's reservation but the fundamentals have to do with delimitation.

"Many concerns have been raised from across the country regarding the delimitation proposals that privilege a few populous states where the BJP is strong now. The relative strength of a number of states in the Lok Sabha will actually decline," Ramesh said on X.

The way delimitation has actually been done in Assam and Jammu and Kashmir shows how "diabolically the Modi-Shah duo work" he said.

"The true intent of these Bills is mischievous, their content devious, and their damage enormous. They have to be rejected completely in their present shape and form," Ramesh asserted.

"The Opposition demand is simple: Reserve one-third of the current strength of the Lok Sabha of 543 for women along with reservation for women belonging to SC, ST, and OBC communities," he said.

This was the Opposition's position in 2023 and this continues to be the position even now, he added.

"This is true power-sharing and vastly more democratic and in keeping with Constitutional values and principles," Ramesh said.

His remarks came as government has listed three bills for introduction in Lok Sabha on Thursday to implement the women's quota law by 2029, and increase the strength of the House to up to 850.